Discover some of the best restaurants in Gloucester with our guide spanning British classics, Far-East flavours and some show-stopping pies.
Two of Gloucester’s most popular places are owned by the same couple – then again the names, So Thai and So Pie, might have given the game away.
So Thai does some of the best Thai food around. Authentic, lip-smackingly tasty and well presented, it’s also pleasingly well priced. Located in a converted 300-year-old wine cellar on Longsmith Road, it’s also a rather special venue, making it one of our favourite restaurants in Gloucester.
So Pie, on the other hand, is good for everything – breakfast, lunch and dinner You’ll find the same high standards, but instead of pad thai, it’s pie. With large portions, good prices and some truly outstanding pies – the duck and cherry is out of this world – this piece of pie heaven near the docks should be on your short (crust) list.
If you’re on the docks, make sure to check out Greek on the Docks – as you can probably guess, it does good, authentic Greek food. Set against the impressive warehouse buildings and the gently bobbing water, Greek on the Docks has been leading the Mediterranean cooking scene in Gloucester for over a decade. Plus, any restaurant that has a dedicated cheese starters page is OK by us.
Two things we love about The Barge – they serve up some of the best food in the city, including a superb Sunday lunch, and they let you bring in your own alcohol, meaning you don’t need to pay the usual markup for a bottle of wine. And, located next to the Mariners Church in the historic Gloucester Docks, it’s got an amazing location as well.
Further towards the centre of Gloucester in the historic heart of the city, Sebz Café Tapas Restaurant is another Mediterranean concept that boasts some of the best paellas in the region. Serving up traditional Portuguese tapas dishes, including their hot-stone steak special, they also do a range of tapas price promotions across lunch and dinner.
One of the leading local Italian restaurants, Topoly's is a great place to get your pizza and pasta on. A family-run operation since 1990, Topoly's is the place to go for an authentic slice of Italian pizza, perfectly cooked gnocchi or going-back-for-seconds tiramisu.
Heading into spicier territory, Gloucester has several high-quality Indian restaurants. The Nepalese Chef on London Road has a handy spice guide – believe us, four chillis is at the sun end of the hot spectrum. They also boast a sprawling menu that indicates virtually every possible allergen, including mustard, soya, sesame, with 98% of their dishes being gluten-free.
Aroma Indian Restaurant meanwhile is a stylish curry house that cherry-picks dishes and cooking styles from across India, including their signature kozhi chettinadu dish, which includes a blend of 18 different spices. Also near Victoria Docks is the Veranda Lounge, an Indian fusion restaurant. If you’ve ever wondered what a chicken tikka panini or a rogan josh burger tastes like, wonder no more.
And finally, returning to Thai food, we finish with Bangkok Canteen on Westgate Street. Not just one of the best Thai restaurants in the region, it’s one of the most popular restaurants full stop. With a dedication to gluten-free, organic and vegan ingredients – including their own wine and beer – this fastidious approach permeates through the whole restaurant, creating beautifully precise and highly authentic Thai dishes.
